Side Hustle Business Ideas You Can Start in Canada

1948 ideas

These 1,1948 ideas are for people who want to start a business without leaving their current job or giving up their evenings and weekends entirely. Some run on set days, like a dessert stand for markets and events or a market stall selling coffee beans and brewing gear.

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Workers installing a striped awning above a café front on a sunny street.

Patio and deck awning installer

Sell and fit retractable awnings for decks, patios and windows, working from home with a manufacturer's range.

C$3k-12k
Side hustle
Out and about

Tents, sleeping bags and hiking gear displayed in an outdoor camping shop.

Online camping gear store

Sell a focused range of camping gear online and ship it across Canada from home.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

Camping gear pop-up and rentals

Sell and rent camping gear from a seasonal stall near campgrounds, markets and events.

C$8k-35k
Side hustle
Out and about

Club volleyball team training together on an indoor court.

Drop-in volleyball club in a rented gym

Rent a school or community gym by the hour and run weekly drop-in volleyball nights for adults.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
Own premises

Farmers and cattle gathered around a busy livestock auction ring.

Part-time sheep, goat and calf trader

Buy lambs, kids or calves from local farms and sell them on to other farms, with a trailer and a good eye.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
Out and about

Designer arranging brochure pages and text on a computer screen.

Freelance desktop publisher

Lay out brochures, reports and booklets from home for local businesses and organizations.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Book and ebook formatting service

Format manuscripts into print-ready books and ebooks for self-publishing authors.

C$400-2k
Side hustle
Online

Motorhomes parked on a campsite with electric hook-up posts.

Small motorhome stop on your own land

Turn spare land into a handful of overnight sites with power and water for motorhomes and RVs.

C$5k-25k
Side hustle
Own premises

Carpenter fitting timber deck boards into a frame in a garden.

Part-time deck builder

Build and repair small timber decks for homeowners on weekends and evenings during the warm months.

C$2.5k-10k
Side hustle
Out and about

Group of people following an energetic dance fitness class in a studio.

Aero dance classes in a rented hall

Run upbeat dance fitness classes in a community hall or studio, paid per class or by monthly pass.

C$500-2.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

Online aero dance classes

Teach live dance fitness classes over video from home, with a monthly membership for regulars.

C$300-1.5k
Side hustle
Online

Accountant reviewing tax forms and using a calculator at a desk.

Home-based personal tax return service

Prepare personal and self-employed tax returns for neighbours and local workers from a home office, busiest from February to April.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Online bookkeeping for small businesses

Keep the books, payroll and GST/HST filings for small businesses on a monthly fee, working remotely from anywhere in Canada.

C$1k-4k
Side hustle
Online

Elegant plated desserts served in a restaurant dining room.

Dessert stall at markets and events

Serve made-to-order sweets and drinks from a stall or cart at farmers' markets, festivals and pop-ups.

C$6k-25k
Side hustle
Out and about

DJ controller, headphones and speakers displayed on a shop counter.

Online DJ gear shop

Sell DJ controllers, headphones and accessories online to hobbyists and working DJs across Canada.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

Large rolls of fabric stacked in a wholesale warehouse.

Online niche fabric wholesaler

Sell one type of fabric by the bolt to small makers and shops online, with stock stored in a garage or small storage unit.

C$5k-25k
Side hustle
Online

Holidaymakers collecting paddleboards and kayaks from a beach rental stand.

Mobile kayak and paddleboard hire

Tow a trailer of kayaks and paddleboards to lakes and beaches and rent them by the hour or day.

C$5k-20k
Side hustle
Out and about

Notary stamping and signing a legal document on a desk at an office.

Mobile notary who comes to you

Witness signatures and certify documents at clients' homes, workplaces or care homes, evenings and weekends included.

C$600-3k
Side hustle
Out and about

Designer creating a large floral arrangement for a wedding table setting.

Home-based wedding and event florist

Design bouquets, centrepieces and arrangements for weddings and events from a studio space at home.

C$1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

Hands fitting a replacement air filter into an engine or unit.

Online furnace and home air filter shop

Sell replacement furnace, HVAC and car cabin filters online, with reorder reminders for repeat buyers.

C$1.5k-8k
Side hustle
Online

Exchange student smiling with a host family at home.

Local homestay coordinator for exchange programmes

Recruit, vet and support host families in your town for schools and exchange programmes.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
Out and about

Incense sticks smoking in a shop display of wooden boxes.

Online incense and accessories shop

Source quality incense and burners, then sell them to customers across Canada through your own website or a marketplace.

C$1k-5k
Side hustle
Online

Technician repairing an air compressor unit in a workshop.

Home garage compressor repair (side hustle)

Fix and service small portable compressors in your garage for contractors and hobby workshops.

C$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

Engraver adding lettering to a trophy in a small workshop.

Home-based trophy and plaque engraving

Engrave trophies, plaques and medals from a spare room for local clubs, schools and teams.

C$2.5k-12k
Side hustle
From home

About these ideas

Others can be booked around your schedule, such as a home nail studio or a mobile foot soak service. Before you choose, think about how many hours you can realistically give each week, what you can afford to spend upfront, and whether your work is seasonal. Check whether your employer allows outside work, and look into the permits, licences and insurance your city or province may require. Start with one idea, test it on a small scale, and see how it fits your life.

More ideas

Questions

How many hours a week does a side hustle usually need?

It depends on the idea. Market stalls often need set weekend days plus prep time, while online shops or mobile services can be more flexible. Check how your available hours match the busiest times for customers before you commit.

Do I need to register a side hustle in Canada?

Requirements vary by province, city and business type. Things to check include whether you need a business name registration, a municipal licence, food safety approval or insurance. Your local government and the Canada Revenue Agency are good places to start.

Do I have to report side hustle income for tax?

Income from a side business is generally something to check with the Canada Revenue Agency or an accountant. Also look into whether GST/HST registration could apply to you, and keep clear records of income and expenses from day one.